Article UK Teeth Whitening
What is Tooth Whitening?
Just like hair and skin, your teeth colour varies from person to person, there are numerous ways that teeth can be made to become whiter if they do become discoloured, and one of them is teeth whitening.
There are a number of different methods of teeth whitening, one of them being bleaching kits which you can buy from a chemists or your dentist can do it. The bleaching kit products contain hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide. As these chemicals break down, oxygen gets into the enamel on the teeth, lightening them.
Dentists can also bleach teeth using a laser.
The main reasons for discolouration is
1. Tea, coffee, red wine and cigarette smoke which yellow your teeth are the main reasons for discolouration.
2. Certain medications can also cause the teeth to become grey.
3. All teeth have nerves and blood vessels inside them. If these nerves and blood vessels are damaged the tooth may become darker.
4. Tooth decay, fillings and tartar build up can contribute to discolouration.
5. Age can also be a factor, many people as they get older develop yellowish staining on their teeth.
What are the different options to teeth whitening?
Some very simple ways to improve the appearance of discoloured teeth are:
* Having your teeth regularly scaled and polished to remove any tartar that has built up over time.
* Following any advice about preventing tooth decay.
* Brushing your teeth after every meal.
* Stopping smoking.
* Cutting down on strong coloured food and drink will stop stains returning.
Many whitening toothpastes are quite abrasive, which may help remove the surface staining, however they don't altar the natural shade of your teeth. Experts are currently reviewing how effective whitening toothpastes actually are.
Information about Teeth Whitening products
Over the Counter Kits:
These kits are sold in most major pharmacies throughout the UK. They all usually contain rubber mouth trays, which are moulds that are approximately the same shape as your teeth, and tubes of bleaching gel.
After squeezing the gel into the mouth tray, you place them over your teeth, usually for about 30 minutes at a time, doing this once a day.
One of the ingredients in the bleaching gel is hydrogen peroxide. The kits only contain a weak amount of hydrogen peroxide and so they aren't as effective as stronger products that will be used by your dentist.
You should always check the level of peroxide on the packaging as the permitted hydrogen peroxide and carbamide peroxide content for tooth whitening products is just 0.1 percent.
Always make sure you buy from a reputable source, such as a major chemist, and preferably one approved by the British Dental Health Foundation.
Professional Tooth Bleaching
In the past, only dentists could whiten your teeth. However now you can have the procedure done by dental hygienists and dental therapists as they are also able to carry out tooth whitening.
There are various whitening techniques, and some are as follows:
External Bleaching
External Bleaching is when the bleaching gel is placed on the outer surfaces of the teeth. Procedures that use this technique are described here;
Home Bleaching - Similar to the Over the Counter Kits but with two differences. First, your dentist makes the rubber mouth tray to fit your teeth precisely, and second, the bleaching gel may be stronger and therefore more effective. Your dentist will provide you with tubes of bleaching gel and instructions on how to put the gel in the mouth trays. You will need to wear the mouth trays from 30 minutes to one hour each day for 2 to 4 weeks as it may take 3 to four weeks to achieve the colour that you want.
Some possible side effects of home bleaching include tooth sensitivity and gum irritation. Although, it is unknown of the long term effects of using these techniques. The home bleaching is only recommended when done after consultation with your dentist.
In the dental surgery, known as 'power' or 'laser' bleaching. Your dentist may wish to put a rubber seal around your teeth in order to protect your gums depending on he concentration of bleaching agent used. After this the bleaching gel is then placed onto your teeth and a special bright light is used. This is an attempt to enhance the whitening process. The appointment may take one to two hours.
Combined bleaching, sometimes known as 'power' bleaching - in this case both the home bleaching and surgery are used in combination. The home bleaching would normally occur before or after surgery, this depending on the type of treatment used.
Internal Bleaching
Internal bleaching is when the bleaching product is physically put inside the tooth. Internal bleaching can only be done on teeth that have been successfully root treated. Being root treated is when blood vessels and nerves inside the tooth have been replace with a rubber filling.
The dentist will then drill a hole and put the bleaching product into the hole. This will usually be the hole already used for the root treatment, although it may need to be enlarged slightly. The hole will then be sealed with a temporary filling, leaving the bleach inside the tooth. This procedure will not hurt because the tooth has no nerve inside it.
With this procedure you will have to go back to your dentists about a week later to have the temporary filling and bleach taken out. If you are happy with the new shade, your dentist will then fill the hole with a tooth coloured filling. Sometimes, the colour hasn't lightened enough and the process needs to be repeated.
Sometimes, internal bleaching needs to be combined with other whitening techniques in order to achieve the desired effect.
How long will the tooth Whitening last?
The whitening effects of different bleaching methods can last for up to three years, but this varies from person to person. Research which was done on home bleaching treatments prescribed by a dentist found that for people who achieved a lighter shade, only half of them still had whiter teeth six months later. So it is advised that your eating, drinking, smoking and brushing habits may have an effect on how long the treatment lasts.
It is important to remember that bleaching doesn't always result in the whiteness that you were expecting. All the results vary from person to person depending on the shade of your teeth before you started bleaching. So therefore, it is important to discuss all the possibilities for improving the appearance of your teeth with your dentist before you make a decision.
When should I not have tooth whitening?
In some cases it will be advised by the dentist that you should not whiten your teeth. Some of the problems which can stop any type of bleaching are for example:
If you have tooth decay, this should first be treated before you can think about starting any teeth whitening. Similarly, your gums should be healthy so if you have any gum disease, this needs to be treated first.
If your teeth are extremely sensitive, to hot and cold food or drinks for example, bleaching is not recommended.
There are some types of staining, such as tetracycline antibiotic staining, that doesn't respond to bleaching as well as others. Bleaching, if successful, may take longer on tetracycline stained teeth.
Bleaching will not work on false teeth, crowns, veneers or fillings, which include tooth coloured fillings. Instead your dentist may be able to replace these with lighter ones.
Bleaching is not recommended for pregnant or breastfeeding women, as well as anyone under the age of 18 as there teeth are still developing.
What are the side effects of tooth whitening?
All dental treatment you will have will carry side effects of some sort, all of which are unwanted. Side effects of having your teeth whitened include sensitivity to hot and cold, a sore throat, tender gums and white patches on your gums, all these side effects should disappear after a few days, however if problems persist you should contact your dentist.
There is no evidence as of yet to suggest that tooth bleaching is harmful to the gums, but it isn't clear what the long term effect on the nerves and blood vessels inside the teeth are.
Caring for you teeth, after whitening.
Once the teeth have been whitened, there are only a few rules to stick by that will keep them in good condition. Daily brushing and flossing, and limiting the amount of sugary snacks and drinks that can stain the teeth is recommended, if you smoke, then this can seriously stain the teeth, not to mention increase the chances of tooth infection.
If the teeth whitening is done by a dentist, tooth whitening can show a marked difference to the colour of your teeth. The teeth will be significantly brighter, and previously stained or discoloured teeth will now blend with the natural colour of the adjacent teeth. Tooth whitening has become a very popular treatment to enhance the teeth colour without the need for surgery.